TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

` 938 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Civil Engineering Department

CE 510
Foundation Engineering

Laboratory Experiment #2
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

SUBMITTED BY
Manaois, Mark Joseph
Mateo, Jullie Anne
Olayres, Jed
Olimpo, Napoleon
Prangan, Kenneth
Requiño, Kim Sundy
CE52FC1

SUBMITTED TO
ENGR. Jennifer Camino
Instructor
DATE
January 8, 2020
 Experiment No. 2
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce to the student a method of determining the shear strength of cohesive soils using
unconfined compression test.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
 Determine the shear strength of cohesive soil.
 Describe the main feature of unconfined compression test.

3. Discussion:
The unconfined compression test is the simplest of the shear test performed on soils. It is similar to the
compression test on wood, steel, concrete and other materials. It consists of applying a gradually increasing
vertical pressure to a carefully prepared cylindrical or prismatic soil specimen and making simultaneous
measurements of the vertical strain to failure.

It is used primarily to determine the shear strength of cohesive soils, which is equal to about one-half of the
unconfined compression testing devices, the “controlled-stress” device and “controlled-strain” device. The
controlled-stress device is one in which the sample is loaded in increments. The usual procedure for loading the
sample is to “load on the minute and read on the half minute”. The test is run with a stopwatch or second timer and
increments of load are applied on the even minutes and the readings of the vertical strain are taken on the half
minutes.

The controlled strain type of testing device applies a strain on sample at a controlled rate. The usual
procedure form testing is to apply the strain to the sample at a uniform rate and to read the load at increments of the
vertical dial movement. For example, the load might be read at every 10 divisions of vertical dial movement. This
test method covers the determination of the unconfined compression strength of soil in the undisturbed, remolded or
compacted condition, using the “ controlled-strain” application of the axial load.

Undisturbed samples are used for strength determination, sometimes, these are remolded and similarity
tested to get the lost strength or what is known as “Sensitivity”. Sensitivity is defined as the ratio of the undisturbed
compressive strength to the corresponding remolded strength of cohesive soils.

4. Resources:

1. Unconfined compression machine.

2. Sample molder and tamper
3. Extensometer Assembly.
4. Protractor and caliper
5. Wax Paper.
6. Oven with temperature control
7. drying cans
8. balances
9. pans.

5. Procedure:
A. SIZE OF SAMPLE
Min. diameter – 30 mm (1.3 inches) to max. diameter 72 mm (2.8 inches)
Min. height to diameter ration shall be 2 to 2.5
B. SAMPLE PREPARATION:

B.1. Undisturbed Sample:

1. Prepare sample in accordance with Experiment no. 4

2. Trim and cut to the desired size as specified in A.

B.2. Remolded Sample:

1. After testing the undisturbed sample, wrap in wax paper or any non-absorptive material. Break up the sample
and knead thoroughly with the fingers until it is uniform.
Note: Avoid entrapping air in the specimen and preserve the natural water content of the soil
2. Place sample in the cylindrical mold in successive layers. Each layer should be sufficiently tamped in order to
obtain a uniform density in the entire sample.
3. Remove the sample form mold with an extruder and square both ends and determine the mass and dimensions
of the test specimen.
4. Start the test immediately.

C. TESTING OF SAMPLE: (Remolded or Undisturbed)

1. Place the specimen in the loading device so that it is centered on the bottom platen. Adjust the loading device
carefully so that the upper platen just makes contact with the specimen. Zero the deformation indicator (dial).
2. Apply the load so as to produce an axial strain at a rate of ½ to 2% per minute.
3. Record load, deformation and time values at sufficient interval (usually at every 30 seconds) to define the
shape of the stress-strain curve (usually 10 to 15 points are sufficient).
Note: The rate of strain should be chosen so that the time to failure does not exceed about 15
minutes.

a. For softer materials that will exhibit larger deformation at failure should be tested at a higher rate of
strain.
b. Stiff or brittle materials that will exhibit small deformations at failure should be tested at a lower rate of
strain.

4. Continue loading until the load values decreases with increasing strain, or until 15% strain is reached.
5. Remove specimen from the machine, and take it to the moist room. Make a sketch of the test specimen at
failure showing the slope angle of the failure surface if the angle is measurable, with respect to the horizontal
plane.
6. Determine the water content of the test specimen using the entire specimen.

CALCULATIONS:

1. Axial Strain (unit strain) = L/Lo x 100 +

Where:
L = length change of specimen as read from deformation indicator, mm
Lo = initial length of test specimen, mm
= axial strain
2. Corrected Area (A):
At + 2Ab + Am
A = Ao / (1- ) ; Ao =
4
Where:
Ao = initial average cross-sectional area of the specimen, mm2
= Axial strain
At = Area at top of sample
Ab = Area at bottom of sample
Am = Area at middle of sample

3. Axial Compression Stress ( c) (Normal stress)

c = P/A
Where:
P = given applied load
A = corresponding ave. cross-sectional area (corrected), mm2
P = A1 = proving ring dial movement
Kpr = proving-ring constant in N/mm (Ib/in)

4. Sensitivity = Peak undisturbed strength

Peak remolded strength

If there is no peak strength, use strength at 15% strain.

5. Shearing Stress = peak undisturbed compressive strength

2
6. Plotting:
Construct a graph showing the relationship between compressive stress (ordinate) and axial
strain (abscissa).

Course: CE 510 - Foundation Engineering Experiment No.: 2

Group No.: 4 Section: CE52FC1
Group Leader: Mateo, Jullie Anne S. Date Performed: December 11, 2019
Group Members: Date Submitted: January 8, 2020
Manaois, Mark Joseph Instructor: Engr. Jennifer L. Camino
Olayres, Jed
Olimpo, Napoleon
Prangan, Kenneth
Requiño, Kim Sundy

6. Data and Results:

Description of Sample 1: Cylindrical Sample
Diameter of Sample mm (inch): 40 mm
Initial Area, (Ao) mm2: 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2
Initial Height, (Lo) mm: 90 mm
Water Content, (w) % 33.33%
 Elapsed Load dial Axial Load Strain dial Total Strain Unit Strain Corrected Stress
time Area
N mm/mm MPa
s 𝑚𝑚2

5 10 4.9 0.17 0.00189 0.19078 1259.0166 0.00389

10 15 7.4 0.63 0.007 0.707 1265.4955 0.00585

15 32 15.9 1.15 0.01278 1.2906 1272.9048 0.01249

20 54 26.8 1.60 0.0178 1.79558 1279.4106 0.0209

25 65 32.3 1.98 0.022 2.222 1284.905 0.02514

30 72 35.8 2.38 0.0264 2.67084 1290.7119 0.0277

Strain rate: 6.132%/𝑚in

Compressive Stress vs. Axial Strain

0.03
COM[RESSIVE STRESS (MPa)

0.025

0.02

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
0.00189 0.007 0.01278 0.0178 0.022 0.0264
AXIAL STRAIN (mm)

Description of Sample 2: Cylindrical Sample

Diameter of Sample mm (inch): 40mm
Initial Area, (Ao) mm2: 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2
Initial Height, (Lo) mm: 89.5mm
Water Content, (w) % 23.08%
 Elapsed Load dial Axial Load Strain dial Total Strain Unit Strain Corrected Stress
time Area
N mm/mm MPa
s 𝑚𝑚2

5 10 4.9 0.81 0.00905 0.91408 1268.113 0.00386

10 35 17.4 1.18 0.01318 1.3316 1273.4207 0.01367

15 70 34.8 1.52 0.01698 1.7153 1278.343 0.02722

20 105 52.2 1.86 0.02078 2.099 1283.304 0.04068

25 132 65.7 2.24 0.0251 2.52789 1288.991 0.05097

30 155 77.1 2.57 0.02872 2.900 1293.795 0.0596

Strain rate: 4.956%/𝑚𝑖𝑛

Compressive Stress vs. Axial Strain

0.07
COM[RESSIVE STRESS (MPa)

0.06

0.05

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0.00905 0.01318 0.01698 0.02078 0.0251 0.02872
AXIAL STRAIN (mm)

Description of Sample 3: Cylindrical Sample

Diameter of Sample mm (inch): 39.5 mm
Initial Area, (Ao) mm2: 1225.417484 𝑚𝑚2
Initial Height, (Lo) mm: 90 mm
Water Content, (w) % 33.33%
 Elapsed Load dial Axial Load Strain dial Total Strain Unit Strain Corrected Stress
time Area
N mm/mm MPa
s 𝑚𝑚2

5 40 19.9 0.20 0.00222 0.22444 1228.144 0.01620

10 90 44.7 0.50 0.0056 0.561156 1232.3185 0.0363

15 140 69.6 0.80 0.00889 0.89778 1236.409 0.05629

20 180 89.5 0.95 0.01056 1.06611 1238.4960 0.07227

25 210 104.5 1.25 0.01389 1.40278 1242.678 0.08409

30 240 117.4 2.73 0.0303 3.0636 1263.708 0.0929

Strain rate: 4.056%/𝑚𝑖𝑛

Compressive Stress vs. Axial Strain

0.1
0.09
COM[RESSIVE STRESS (MPa)

0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0.00222 0.0056 0.00889 0.01056 0.01389 0.0303
AXIAL STRAIN (mm)
7. Conclusion:
The Unconfined Compression Test is a test to measure the shear strength of the soil sample. The
test is used primarily for saturated, cohesive soil samples from thin walled sampling tubes. Based on the
observation, the unconfined compressive strength is directly proportional to the axial Load applied by the
unconfined compression test machine. It is because the corrected area is decreasing and the applied axial
load is increasing as the test machine compresses the Sample. The unconfined compressive strength is
just the half of undrained shear strength, as the test machine continuously applied axial load that causes
the axial strain on the specimen, the specimen will experience the increase in unconfined compressive
strength and undrained shear strength. Therefore we conclude that unconfined compression test is by far
the most popular method of soil shear testing because it is one of the fastest and cheapest methods of
measuring shear strength. In addition, we observed that its strength is dependent on how you tamp it or
how it is compressed. The more compressed soil, the higher its strength.

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

Performance Beginner Acceptable Proficient

Score
indicator 1 2 3

Identify the Designs an experiment Designs an experiment

Fails to design an
procedures involved satisfying the minimum exceeding the
experiment following
in designing the requirements of the requirements of the
procedures
experiment procedures procedures
Develops a protocol to Develops a protocol to
Develop a protocol Fails to develop a
conduct an experiment conduct an experiment
to conduct an protocol to conduct an
satisfying the minimum exceeding the
experiment experiment
requirements minimum requirements
Total Score

Mean score=(Total Score/2)

Percentage Score= (Total Score/6) x 100%

9. References
Budhu, M. (2008). Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons
American Society for Testing and Materials (2000). Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil (D-2166).
Pennsylvania: ASTM International
SAMPLE Calculations:

∆𝐿 𝐴𝑜 𝐹
Time Interval Axial Strain 𝑥100 + 𝜀 Corrected Area 𝐴 = Stress 𝜎 =
𝐿𝑖 1+𝜀 𝐴

0.17𝑚𝑚 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2 4.9𝑁

@t = 5s 90𝑚𝑚
𝑥100 + 0.00189 1−0.00189
𝜎 = 1259.0166𝑚2

= 0.19078 = 1259.0166𝑚𝑚2 = 0.00389 𝑀𝑃𝑎

0.63𝑚𝑚 1256.637061𝑚𝑚2 7.4𝑁
@t = 10s 90𝑚𝑚
𝑥100 + 0.007 1−0.007
𝜎 = 1265.4955𝑚𝑚2

= 0.707 = 1265.4955𝑚𝑚2 = 0.00585 𝑀𝑃𝑎

1.15𝑚𝑚 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2 15.9𝑁
@t = 15s 90𝑚𝑚
𝑥100 + 0.01278 1−0.01278
𝜎 = 1272.9048𝑚𝑚2

= 0.01278 = 1272.9048𝑚𝑚2 = 0.01249𝑀𝑃𝑎

1.60𝑚𝑚 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2 26.8𝑁
@t = 20s 90𝑚𝑚
𝑥100 + 0.0178 1−0.0178
𝜎 = 1279.4106𝑚𝑚2

= 0.0178 = 1279.4106𝑚𝑚2 = 0.0209 𝑀𝑃𝑎

1.98𝑚𝑚 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2 32.3𝑁
@t = 25s 𝑥100 + 0.22 𝜎=
90𝑚𝑚 1−0.022 1284.905𝑚𝑚2

= 0.022 = 1284.905𝑚𝑚2 = 0.02514𝑀𝑃𝑎

2.38𝑚𝑚 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2 35.8𝑁
@t = 30s 𝑥100 + 0.0264 𝜎=
90𝑚𝑚 1−0.0264 1290.7119𝑚𝑚2

= 0.0264 = 1290.7119𝑚𝑚2 = 0.0277𝑀𝑃𝑎

Strain Rate
∆𝐿
Axial Strain 𝐿 𝑥100
𝑖𝑡

(0.007 − 0.00189) 𝑥100 60𝑠

𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 = ( ) = 6.132%/𝑚𝑖𝑛
10 − 5 1𝑚

SAMPLE 2
Water Content
8𝑔 − 6.5𝑔
𝜔(%) = 𝑥 100 = 23.08%
6.5𝑔
𝐴𝑡 + 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝑀 (40)2 𝜋
𝐴𝑜 = =( ) 𝑚𝑚2 = 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2
4 4
SAMPLE 3
Water Content
8𝑔 − 6𝑔
𝜔(%) = 𝑥 100 = 33.33%
6𝑔
𝐴𝑡 + 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝑀 (39.5)2 𝜋
𝐴𝑜 = =( ) 𝑚𝑚2 = 1225.417484 𝑚𝑚2
4 4

SAMPLE 1
Water Content
8𝑔 − 6𝑔
𝜔(%) = 𝑥 100 = 33.33%
6𝑔
𝐴𝑡 + 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝑀 (40)2 𝜋
𝐴𝑜 = =( ) 𝑚𝑚2 = 1256.637061 𝑚𝑚2
4 4
Table used in identifying the Axial load